Am I a candidate for FUE? (photos)

When considering hair transplant surgery, it is important
that you think about the progression of your hair loss. Presently, there is big
interest in follicular unit extractions (FUEs) which are a method of
transplanting hair from the permanent zone. This area is located at the back of
scalp and has hairs that never go away they can be placed in areas that need
hair. There is also another procedure
called strip method or follicular unit transplants (FUTs). However, both of
these procedures have a big limitation in the donor area.



In our practice, we counsel our patients that hair loss is
ongoing and the donor area has limited number of hairs. It is important that we
prevent the progression of hair loss and reverse hair thinning so that we can
achieve a certain level of stability and predictability. I have seen patients
who had several transplants but to a certain point, their hairs thin out and
they are left with only the transplants. They had a “pluggy look” - the look
with isolated plugs.



We have developed a method of restoring
thinning hair called Hair Regeneration. Hair Regeneration is a method of using
platelet-rich plasma combined with a material called acellular matrix. It is
customized and applied in a very specific dosing depending on factors such as
age, gender and degree of hair loss. We have found significant improvement in
being able to halt the progression of thinning and reverse the thinning process
in order to have greater volume. In addition, it improves the healing of the
donor area.



We made a tremendous impact on the choices that many people
are making about if and when to do a transplant. In fact, it is not unusual now
for people to come to us who had a hair transplant recently to have the
treatment in order to not only prevent the progression of hair thinning but
also to enhance the survivability and the results of the transplants. We also
had patients who wanted a second transplant but found out through a microscope
that they didn’t have hair loss but had hair thinning. As long as the hair is
present, then we can potentially thicken significantly the hairs that are
thinning. If hairs are thicken in a given area, the volume is greater compared
to a hair transplant surgery. Nature has placed hairs in dense clusters, so no
matter how technically skilled the surgeon and technicians are, we can never
create the same level of density as nature with one transplant. Hair
Regeneration has become a good option for people who are considering a second
transplant.



I suggest that you consider a stabilizing alternative such as
Hair Regeneration. In our practice, we explain that a given patient can have full
results from anywhere from a year to 18 months. We follow our patients every 3
months after the injection. We document with standardized controlled
photography in specific positions and look at the scalp with a microscope to
document the progression and improvement. Once we reach a certain maximal
reversal where most of hairs are terminal and have good quality thick hairs as
opposed to miniaturizing or villous hairs, then we can make a decision.
Depending on the level of hair loss, if we choose to move on to have a
transplant, we can be strategic in the placement of these limited hairs and
place them more effectively to get a better cosmetic result.

A hair transplant can be delayed if we can reverse thinning.
Some of our patients even feel that they don’t need a hair transplant after
they have Hair Regeneration because they are comfortable with their look. I hope that was helpful, I wish you the best
of luck, and thank you for question.

Since you hair loss is more limited to the hairline, FUE would be a good option in you.  This would avoid the linear scar in the back of the head.  However, if this scar is not that much a concern for you, a strip procedure would offer you more grafts in a single procedure at less cost to you.